Watch the goals as Scotland beat Czechs in World Cup play-off

Amy Canavan
BBC Sport Scotland at The Marbill Coaches Stadium

Scotland twice came from behind against the Czech Republic to win a five-goal thriller and set up a Women's World Cup round two play-off against heavyweights Sweden.

Although the Scots carried a two-goal lead from Friday's first leg in Pardubice, they endured a testing night in Paisley - facing their first blow before kick-off.

In the warm-up, Melissa Andreatta lost captain and back-to-back Ballon d'Or nominee Caroline Weir to injury and the head coach's woes were compounded when visiting defender Denisa Vesela rocketed a magnificent strike into the top corner just three minutes into play.

It silenced a packed Marbill Coaches Stadium - where alcohol was allowed in seats for the first time in Scotland in 45 years - but only momentarily.

Lauren Davidson restored the Scots' cushion just two minutes later with her fourth international goal.

The hosts could not kick on and again went behind when Klara Cahynova's header from a corner all too easily beat Sandy MacIver in goal.

While Scottish DJ Hannah Laing attempted to lift spirits in the stands with her half-time set, Andreatta dropped her own big beat, sending Chelsea captain Erin Cuthbert out for the start of the second half.

The composure and leadership of the midfielder still recovering from injury was immediately evident and her presence turned the tie back in Scotland's favour.

From the free-kick, she won a ball and Kathleen McGovern capitalised on confusion in the Czech backline to level again on the night for the hosts.

Then her cross was spilled by visiting goalkeeper Barbora Votikova, allowing Christy Grimshaw to loft into an empty net as the Scots took the lead on the night for the first time.

From there, their place in round two of the play-off was confirmed and they will face Sweden, who won 10-0 on the night - and 15-0 on aggregate - against Lithuania in Stockholm.

Scotland analysis: Cuthbert class eases worries without Weir

Cuthbert 'under no illusions' about Sweden

Whenever the Scots are Weir-less, it is a worry - and there was cause for concern right from the off.

On Friday, it was the midfielder's moment of magic that sparked Andreatta's side into life. It was not the first time her team-mates have turned to her and, going by how lost they looked here without her, it will not be the last.

It is an issue the head coach has to deal with. As good - and she is really good - as Weir is, she is now 31 years old and no national team can reach the levels Scotland want to with just one player pulling them there.

She is not the loudest leader - Nicola Docherty, who assumed the armband in her absence in the first half, is much more vocal - but her actions do all the talking.

While the initial response to conceding so early was pleasing, the inability to push on was poor and, like on Friday, the Czechs were allowed to build into the first half and finish it by far on top.

For what the Scots lacked before the break without Weir, they found through Cuthbert after it.

Given the 28-year-old was making only her second appearance since a knee injury in June kept her sidelined, the midfielder made light work of hauling the Scots up to standard.

She ensured things ticked over in the middle of the park and - along with the addition of Sophie Howard in defence - brought a more well-balanced structure to the side.

What was on show in the second half, without being scintillating, was much more of what was expected from the hosts, who had done much of the hard yards in the Czech Republic last week.

While progression was undoubtedly the most important thing, the Scots - who remain unbeaten in 2026 - will need to up their game considerably when they face back-to-back World Cup semi-finalists Sweden next.

The jump in class will be sizeable. The Scots will need their top performers firing on all cylinders to give themselves any chance of booking flights and hotels in Brazil next summer.

What they said

"We'll be ready" - Melissa Andreatta turns attention to Sweden

Scotland head coach Melissa Andreatta: "What it showed is what Scotland's all about.

"We stuck to our principles, ground out a result and that puts us in a good place for what's ahead.

"In the lead up to this game, we worked on all different scenarios, so everything we did tonight was planned. We had the options in our back pocket and we had to use them."

Scotland forward Lauren Davidson: "In the first half, we maybe didn't play the way we wanted to play. We wanted to fix that in the second half.

"In these type of games, they're [Czech Republic] losing 2-0, I think it's all about showing resilience."

Scotland midfielder Erin Cuthbert: "Getting to the play-off final was the most important thing.

"I don't think we played our best tonight, but these types of games are just about getting the job done.

"We weren't playing the best football in the first half and I think my job as a substitute is to come on and make an impact."

Player of the match

L. Davidson
8.09
19 L. Davidson
8.09
22 E. Cuthbert
8.08
17 C. Grimshaw
7.40
11 K. McGovern
7.40
2 N. Docherty
7.27
5 S. Howard
7.20
4 J. Clark
7.00
10 K. Hanson
7.00
14 R. McLauchlan
6.90
20 M. Thomas
6.88
12 S. MacIver
6.83
15 M. Taylor
6.80
16 C. Cornet
6.75
6 K. MacLean
6.75
3 A. Muir
6.70
18 C. Emslie
6.64
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